Electoral Systems Flashcards by Ellie Brown

Where is FPTP used

To elect MPs in the UK general elections

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What type of system is FPTP

Pluralist

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Why has FPTP been criticised recently

Inability to prevent a hung parliament

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Define mandate

Authority to govern

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What are the four strengths of FPTP

Creates a clear mandate
Easy to understand
Prevents extremist parties
Open list

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Main weaknesses of FPTP

Creates wasted votes
Excludes women and minorities
Encourages tactical voting
DISTORTS THE VOTE not proportional

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What type of system is AMS

It is a hybrid (mixed) system:
• FPTP
• Proportional Representation

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Where is the AMS used

In Scottish Parliament, welsh assembly, London assembly

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How many votes are cast in AMS

2 votes

1 regional
1 constituent

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How are regional seats allocated

On a corrective bases
Or ‘top up votes’
Calculated using d’Hondt formula

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What are the main strengths of AMS

Parliament is more proportionate
Helps smaller parties gain seats=voices heard
Maintains clear link between MSPs and constituents
Reduces adversarial politics

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Main weaknesses of AMS

Smaller parties gain less publicity than larger ones
More complex method of counting votes
More than one representative for an area

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Where is STV used

In northern Irish assembly, European, local elections

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Is STV proportionate or not

Yes

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How do people vote in STV

Ranked

Ordinal

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How many MPs are sent forward in STV

Each constituency sends a team of MPs from a large multi member constituency

What must a candidate do to be elected under STV

Must reach a quota set by the droop formula

What are the strengths of STV

Lots of voter choice
Eliminates tactical voting 
Fewer votes are wasted as they are reassigned 
No safe seats
Conciliatory voting

Main weaknesses of STV

Must be very politically involved to rank
Donkey voting
Party can put forward the best person who will win most votes
Ballot paper quite confusing

How many countries use party list

When is party list used

UK MEP elections and top up votes for AMS

Who do u vote for in party list

A particular party

Closed list

What happens under party list in large areas

Large areas vote to elect. Group of MPs which closely mirror the way the area has voted

What are the main strengths of Party List

Proportional system- few wasted votes

Small parties will be represented so people feel that there voices are being heard

Main weaknesses of party list

Weak Mp constituent link Closed list- can not reject a particular MP Power is in party headquarters Increase in coalition government

What type of system is SV

A non proportional majoritarian system

What does SV look like on the ballot paper

Two columns on ballot paper ( first choice & second choice )

What happens if no candidate wins a majority under SV

Top two candidates progress - the 2nd choice votes are then factored in Whoever had the most votes after this is the winner

Where is SV used

London mayoral elections

What are the main strengths of SV

Easy for voters to understand Could encourage conscilliatory voting Strong mp constituent link Minority parties have voices heard not entirely wasted Winner represents majority of constituency

What are main weaknesses of SV

Strongly promotes voting for top 3 parties Lots of wasted votes Encourage tactical voting Not completely proportional Rewards parties with concentrated support

What is AV

A lengthened version of SV, instead of two votes, voters can rank candidates and the lowest party is eliminated and votes are redistributed until one vote has a majority

What was the result of the referendum: | Should FPTP be replaced with AV

32% yes | 68% no

What are the strengths of AV

Far more proportional than FPTP Reduces tactical voting Conscilliatory voting Eliminates safe seats

What are weaknesses of AV

``` Have to be politically educated to rank Donkey voting Distorts votes Result in coalitions Complicated to understand ```

Give an example of the Un-proportionality of FPTP

Belfast MP McDonnell won with 25% of vote in 2015

How many votes and seats did UKIP get in 2010

1 million votes= no seats

A disadvantage of FPTP is that it creates huge regional imbalances, how many seats did conservative gets in GE in wales or Scotland- how much of vote

0 seats | 21% of vote

In 2015 GE how many seats and votes did: UKIP LD SNP

UKIP-13% of vote= 1 seat LD-8% of vote= 8 seats SNP-5% of vote= 56 seats